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Modern Denver Oasis Combines Rural and Urban Outdoor Design

From: R Design Landscape Architecture

This ultra-contemporary home feels both utterly urban and totally wild, thanks to its fanciful combination of bold concrete slabs, quaking aspen trees, ornamental grasses and even a rooftop viewing area covered with foam and undulating artificial turf.

Relaxing Rooftop Garden

Photo: James Florio. From: R Design Landscape Architecture

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Relaxing Rooftop Garden

High-density structural foam was carved to provide lightweight structure for a sinuous landform of synthetic turf set on the rooftop deck. Delicate pin lights were installed for ambiance and the forms were purposely shaped for comfortable seating when star gazing.

Urban Backyard With Pool

Photo: James Florio. From: R Design Landscape Architecture

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Urban Backyard With Elevated Pool

The backyard is at once eclectic and artistic (a welcome fit with the home's art district neighborhood) as well as modern. Pre-existing trees were complemented by rolling lawns and a large sculptural boulder. There is also an elevated pool and space for dining and lounging.

Industrial Pool

Photo: James Florio. From: R Design Landscape Architecture

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Industrial Pool With Concrete Shell

A cast-in-place concrete shell gives the swimming pool a clean finish; the elevated edge can be used for seating. Lawns were graded to bring them gracefully up to meet the Ipe deck.

Contemporary Colorado Outdoor Space

Photo: James Florio. From: R Design Landscape Architecture

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Contemporary Colorado Outdoor Space

This rooftop outdoor space in Colorado features lush greenery, a seating area with fire pit and a swimming pool.

Oasis in the City

Photo: James Florio. From: R Design Landscape Architecture

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Oasis in the City

The south elevation of this home is flanked by a wall constructed of reclaimed brick from the original residences on the site, which provides a backdrop for the swimming pool, lawn and rock outcropping.

Rooftop Deck With Turf Hills

Photo: James Florio. From: R Design Landscape Architecture

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Rooftop Garden With Turf Hills

On the rooftop deck, architects wanted the homeowners to be able to sit and even lie down to take in views of the skyline and sky. The curves of the artificial turf help soften the building's clean, geometric lines and industrial materials.

Contemporary Colorado Home With Curb Appeal

Photo: James Florio. From: R Design Landscape Architecture

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Contemporary Colorado Home With Curb Appeal

The designers at R Design Landscape Architecture created contemporary curb appeal at the front of this Colorado home. They incorporated concrete walls and long bands of Blue Lyme Grass and Red Switch grass, that run parallel to the street along the east elevation, providing an entry garden for the home which gives a welcoming context relating to the front porch feel of the neighborhood.

Urban Outdoor Oasis

Photo: James Florio. From: R Design Landscape Architecture

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Urban Outdoor Oasis

Gardens planted with Quaking Aspen and swaths of ornamental grass create spaces for outdoor seating and dining and provide scale for the taller volumes of this contemporary Colorado home.

Front Yard and Low Wall

Photo: Michael Deleon. From: R Design Landscape Architecture

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Front Yard With Low Wall

In planning this front yard, the designers wanted to stay connected to the surrounding neighborhood. They preserved the historic stone sidewalk and kept the front boundary wall low.

Brick Wall

Photo: Michael Deleon. From: R Design Landscape Architecture

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Brick Wall and Grasses

The wall along the south of this property uses brick reclaimed from the two homes originally on the site. Built with a dry set mortar, the texture and coloring of the bricks shines through in an engaging pattern.

Concrete and Brick Wall

Photo: Michael Deleon. From: R Design Landscape Architecture

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Concrete Wall and Lyme Grass

The perimeter of the garden is flanked by a concrete wall on the east side and a reclaimed brick wall on the south. To soften and unify the two textures, Blue Lyme grass was planted in front of both.

Brick Wall and Mural

Photo: Michael Deleon. From: R Design Landscape Architecture

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Brick Wall With Mural

This Denver home, near the RiNo Arts District, pays homage to the neighborhood's history with a colorful mural on its outer wall. As you turn the corner, the wall shifts into a pixelated brick pattern, representing the joining of old ways with new.

Alley Wall

Photo: Michael Deleon. From: R Design Landscape Architecture

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Alley Wall With Graffiti

Running the length of an alley, this wall captures the history of the site. Designers incorporated a coal shoot and a door from one of the original homes nearby. Pieces of the wall from over 120 years of building and rebuilding were protected and reinforced with concrete.

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